Chap, 51.] EXTREME FEllTILITT OF SOIL. GT 



cumstances will not allow of it, spelt should be sown upon the 

 ground that has been first cropped with lupines, vetches, or 

 beans ; for all these have a tendency to make the soil more 

 fertile. We ought to remark here more particularly, that here 

 and there certain plants are sown for the benefit of others, 

 although, as already stated in the preceding Book," not to 

 repeat the same thing over again, they are of little value them- 

 selves. But it is the nature of each soil that is of the greatest 

 importance. 



CHAP. 51. (22.) EXTRE3IE FEETILITT OF SOIL. 



There is a city of Africa, situate in the midst of the sands 

 as you journey towards the Syrtes and Great Leptis, Tacape'"* 

 by name. The soil there, which is always well- watered, en- 

 joys a degree of fertility quite marvellous. Through this 

 spot, which extends about three miles each way, a spring of 

 water flows — in great abundance it is true — but still, it is only 

 at certain hours that its waters are distributed among the in- 

 habitants. Here, beneath a palm of enormous size, grows the 

 olive, beneath the olive the fig, beneath the fig, again, the pome- 

 granate, beneath the pomegranate the vine, and beneath the 

 vine we find sown, first wheat, then the leguminous plants, and 

 after them garden herbs — all in the same year, and all growing 

 beneath another's shade. Four cubits square of this same 

 ground — the cubit"^^ being measured with the fingers contracted 

 and not extended — sell at the rate of four denarii. '^ But what 

 is more surprising than all, is the fact that here the vine bears 

 twice, and that there are two vintages in the year. Indeed, 

 if the fertility of the soil were not distributed in this way 

 among a multitude of productions, each crop would perish from 

 its own exuberance : as it is, there is no part of the year that 

 there is not some crop or other being gathered in ; and yet, it 

 is a well-known fact, that the people do nothing at aU to pro- 

 mote this fruitfulness. 



"•' In B. xvii. c. 7. 



'* See B. V. c. 3, and B. xvi. c. 50. It is also mentioned by Ptolemy 

 and Procopius. It was situate evidently in an oasis, 



"^ Or arm's length from the elbow. 



"* He surely does not mention this as an extravagant price, more espe- 

 cially when he has so recently spoken (i c. 34) of rape selling at a ses- 

 terce per pound 



r 2 



